House also to reaffirm In God We Trust" as official motto of the United States
By Cong. Randy Neugebauer
Texas Insider Report: WASHINGTON D.C. This Wednesday the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Oversight & Investigations which I chair will hold a hearing with the Insurance Housing & Community Opportunity Subcommittee to examine fraud in the Department of Housing & Urban Developments (HUD) HOME Investment Partnerships Program.
This is the 2nd in a series of hearings on the HOME program to examine whether a lack of internal controls at HUD make the HOME program vulnerable to fraud & waste.
The HOME program was established in 1990 (NAHA) as a formula-based grant program for states and localities to use to build or buy housing for low-income people. Approximately 20000 HOME projects are currently in progress in 642 participating jurisdictions around the country.
In a review of HUD documents we have discovered that 1000s of these building projects have been open for five or more years much longer than is necessary for these homes and buildings to be built. One of our witnesses was convicted of stealing nearly $1 million from the program and is currently in jail; another has also been convicted of stealing money from the program.
Both will testify as to how easy it is to steal from the HOME program.
My concern is that millions of taxpayer dollars are being funneled to projects" that are not being completed and in some cases never being built.
The HUD HOME program is another example of government bureaucracys failed attempt to infiltrate the private market.
Watch the hearing live on Wednesday at 2:00pm ET.
United Nations Agency gives Palestinians Full Membership
This morning the United Nations Educational Scientific & Cultural Organization (UNESCO) the cultural agency at the United Nations (UN) approved full membership for Palestinians.
This vote is separate from full membership in the United Nations and I agree with the United States vote against Palestinian membership into UNESCO. I am concerned this action by UNESCO
will bring more uncertainty and instability to the Middle East.
In God We Trust" Reaffirmation as the Motto of the United States
This week the House will consider
H.Con.Res. 13 which would reaffirm In God We Trust" as the official motto of the United States and support and encourage the public display of the national motto in all public buildings public schools and other government institutions.
I look forward to supporting this resolution and continuing Americas heritage.
Congressman Randy Neugebauer represents the 27 Texas Panhandle counties included in the 19th District of Texas. Since taking office June 5 2003 currently in his 5th term he serves as Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee Subcommittee on Oversight & Investigations and is also a member of both the House Agriculture Committee and the Science & Technology Committee.
